Paternoster Valley, Bay of Islands August the 9th 1823. Revd Samuel Marsden, Revd Sir, Ever since my first departure from New South Wales for this Island in the Brig Active, I have been in consequence of the peculiar difficulties of my situation, the natural perverseness of my disposition, and various other causes frequently passing thro scenes of sorrow. I have no less than six times been on the brink of Eternity. I have been very frequently thwarted in my course, yet in the midst of all this I have never yet entertained one secret wish to desert the service of the Society: and I can say with strict adherence to truth, that my earnest desire to promote the temporal, spiritual, and eternal interests of the Natives has been, except in my darkest moments, the same from the time I first saw you in London which was about sixteen years ago to the present hour. I have it is true, been sorely oppressed and brought down by domestic troubles, and by the temptations of my great adversary the Devil, who hating the cause of the Redeemer, has always been harassing and tormenting me, and has been permitted to my own sorrow, and I am sure to the sorrow of my many friends in England &c. to obtain a temporary triumph over me. But do you think Sir that, that sub[t]le deceiver will now triumph less by this decision of the Society, by which I am as far as they are concerned completely driven [f] out of the field of action? May I not humbly ask the question from whence is all this haste? When the Society first accepted my proposals to them, I engaged on my part to do all in my power to promote their benevolent views amongst the people of this Country; but I never did, nor never could engage to keep myself free from the overwhelming power of temptation should it ever be as it has been, the will of a merciful Saviour to permit me to do wrong: and I am at a real loss to conjecture what the reason can be, that I suffer more by allowing my temptation, and sin to be open, and exposed, and being thus enabled through the Divine assistance to get rid of them altogether, than I would have suffered if I had concealed them from the World. According to my views the Society are not bound to keep their Servants longer than they wish, giving them a fair notice to quit, and landing them upon the same spot from whence they sent them. Why have they not acted upon such principles with me? I am a man to be spoken to, or written to. If they had told me to leave them, I should have settled my accounts with them and acquiesced after I had had an interview with them. It appears from your conversation with me a few days ago, that a different course is to be taken. I received a Letter of suspension from you, from [f] New South Wales, and the Committee in England agreed to dismiss me, as I am told, long before I knew that any charges were sent to you, or them against me, by any of my Colleagues and now my salary and the support of myself and Family are withdrawn from us, and we are to be left to shift for ourselves in an Heathen Land, without any prospect of a passage being provided for us to our Native Country— Were those Galileans on whom the Tower of Siloam fell sinning above all the Galileans? No! O whence then can arise all this undesigned unkindness? O ye Men whose bosoms glow with love to God, and the poor perishing Heathen think it not impossible but the dark clouds which have been hanging over my brow during a long winter’s night may yet be chased away, and that my mid-day Sun may again be allowed to shine on the Heathen around me. Have I not been seeking for safety by flight? And may I not humbly hope I have at length found it? I have traversed the Ocean no less than thirty six thousand miles, and in my best moments since my return from England even when my mind has been harassed and perplexed, I have fled from bay to bay, from river to river, from Village to Village, and from mountain to mountain. [f] Let me therefore be guided by the word of God, which I have carried about with me and not by worldly maxims. Let me pray for, and tarry for the period when it may please my Divine Master to enable me to resume those employments amongst the native children, which have formerly given me so much delight. I am not idle, but am making all the preparations I can make for future usefulness: and let me humbly recommend you to recall to your remembrance, the various pursuits of your unworthy Servant, the instructions I have from time to time given the Natives, the books I have written, and the progress I have made in the language, and in the knowledge of the Religion, Customs, and manners of the Natives. Think also on the incessant toil of my Wife, the labours of my Eldest Son, and the conciliating deportment of the whole of my Family; That I have no fewer than nine children, some of whom have already to my unspeakable gratitude, thankfulness, and joy, religious impressions on their minds— I think on the praises of the adorable Jesus which are continually ascending from my humble dwelling, to which Europeans and Natives have equal access, Sabbath after Sabbath, and day after day. Think moreover of the wide field of usefulness that is open and how few there are still to labour in, [f] and then say whether you can see any charitable reason for any one to aim at my dismissal, or at making my conduct appear so notorious to the world. O let truth speak one word to your attentive ears. Has not my situation been peculiarly distressing? Have I not been in a state of delirium next to madness during the time I have been giving way to those foolish and abominable ideas which have occupied my mind. There has been no other period in my life past in which I could have attempted to reconcile such wild measures as I pursued, to my conscience and I trust there will be no other period in my future life, in which I shall be suffered by my divine Master to entertain them. May not a modest appeal be made to past experience, to mitigate the injury which I have been doing to myself. Where is there a Female of my own nation, who can charge me with a lascivious look? Let me not be understood, I mean not to take refuge here. I know my heart has at all times been a fountan [sic] of vile thoughts, and that being virtuous in one instance, is no excuse for being corrupt in another. The above however, are considerations which a feeling mind would not lose sight of; nor do I think that Society will after a more mature deliberation wish to part these links in the chain of my destiny viz. That I embarked in their [f] Service at their command, that I have laboured in their service, that I have sinned in their service, that I have repented in their service, and that I am still promoting, according to my feeble abilities, the object they have in view, and am still desirous to serve them. O Ye Messengers of Mercy whose robes are washed like mine in the blood of the Lamb: cannot you tell me of the love of that Saviour whose attention was directed, immediately after his resurrection to his unfaithful Disciple, St Peter, and who commanded him before his ascension to feed his Sheep and Lambs. Is there any truth of later date, than this. “That he who weeps over his sins, and confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain Mercy.”? Talk not to me about the credit of the Society, that credit is secure: but tell me of my own follies, admonish me, and as many of us as have fallen into sin, and run astray from God, to measure back our steps to him by true repentance and return with renewed Zeal to the path of Duty. Tell me for I doubt not the truth of it, that the value of the perishing Souls of the poor Heathen weigh more with you than every other consideration; if you say so to me I shall be content— Any why can you be so cruel to my large Family as to withdraw all support from them? I am now I am confident in the path of Duty and I have been so for several months past, and if I have [f] not always been in a state of mind to make myself useful, yet my wife, and my children have been at work: would it not be unkind indeed to make a difference between them, and the other children attached to the Mission? Do you think that such a measure will either punish or reclaim me? No! it punishes my children but it does not punish me. It is the language of Christian kindness that I have long wished to hear. It is the friendly hand that would raise me up and not the hand of Jealousy or envy that would press me down that can be useful to me in my present state of mind. O for a faithful friend, O for a patient perusal in the Bible, a peep at the Cross of an expiring Redeemer, an affectionate interview with him before his cause be deserted by me, and the labours of his afflicted Servant be for ever at an end. If he spares me with life and Health I despair not, Humbling myself at his footstool I am humble before men. Fearing him I have no one else to fear, nor shall I ever be discouraged if by losing in point of Rank amongst a few individuals, I can regain double in point of usefulness and spirituality I am Revd Sir But I mean Revd & Dear Sir Your very obedient Servant (signed) Thomas Kendall [f] Pater Noster Valley, Bay of Islands Augst 13th 1823 Revd and Dear Sir, It certainly is recorded in the word of God that “God will visit the Sins of the Fathers upon the children” but it is in my opinion as consistent with the word of God for Fathers to plead on behalf of their Children: and if Sir the great love which I have for my Family has been one means under the hands of a gracious Saviour of saving me from ruin, I humbly hope I may intreat for them and offer up my devout praises to God that he has had compassion on me for their sakes as well as that of the poor Heathen. I am Revd and Dear Sir Your very Obedient Servt (signed) Thomas Kendall Revd Saml Marsden Missionary House Paternoster Valley Augst 14th 1823 Revd Samuel Marsden Dear Sir, Now the Church Missionary [f] Society have been under the painful necessity of writing to me saying that they have dissolved their connexion with me I hope all strife and jealousy between me and my Colleagues are at an end. Having said all that I wished to say to them, I feel myself at peace with them, and I entertain the hope that they are at peace with me. The Society not only wished me to leave their settlement, but to retire to Port Jackson supposing no doubt that I was living in a state of Rebellion against God, at the time they discharged me and should continue to do so. Blessed be God for ever this is not the case. I have removed from the scene of my distress, and now I feel my mind tranquil and easy, I feel it my imperious duty not only on account of the infinite obligations I am under to my Divine Master but also on account of the many former kindnesses of the Society to me, to remain a little longer where I am, having it in contemplation to do many little things amongst the Natives before I take my last farewell. If I feel myself disposed to run into sin, or if it should so happen that I should not in future be able to stem the torrent of temptation, I should quit by the first opportunity, but whilst I am firm in these respects, how can I quit such a scene of usefulness as I humbly trust is open before me? I have only one Life Sir, and that may probably be a very short one, [f] my youngest Sons know very much of the language, and they can be of great service to me in translating it at least for a year or two, after which I shall endeavour to take care of them and introduce them into more suitable Society than they can obtain here. I have talents Sir, entrusted to my care, which I am commanded no longer to abuse, and which (as they are the gift of God) if well used may possibly be blessed. As to property I have a little, and being a Missionary, I think it my duty not to spare that little. My Colleagues living near me will see what I am doing. I will render them every assistance in my power in preparing books &c for the service of the Mission. I am ready to meet them on all possible grounds. I pant Sir for peace, and faithfull friends. As Missionaries who have all of them suffered more or less in the service of their Master I am ready to wash their feet but I am not ready to desert the cause of him who sent me hither, who has held his hand over me, and has prevented the fatal stroke, who has supported me under all my trials, and has engaged to be with me to the end— May God of his infinite mercy vouchsafe his blessing to every attempt in favour of the Natives of New Zealand. May the Missionaries be blessed in their persons and in their families, and may they [f] succeed in all their labours. I have no doubt Sir, but as many of us as have sown in tears shall finally reap in Joy. I am Revd Sir Your humble Servant signed Thomas Kendall Revd Saml Marsden P.S. I hope time will alter the determination of the Society respecting me, if not it is my wish to return to England, except I could serve the Society better at Port Jackson. Missionary House Pater Noster Valley August 14. 1823 Revd Saml Marsden Revd Sir You have asked me the question “Whether an attempt ought not now to be made to instruct the Native Children, and whether there is any probability of success?” I will freely state to you my opinion as to the order of proceeding which would be most likely under the Divine [f] blessing to accomplish that desirable end. Nothing can be done of a general nature, until the whole of the Missionaries with their families are comfortably lodged. As soon as this is done, there must in the next place be conveniences made for the scholars to be instructed in, and to eat in, and to lodge in. There must also be always in the store for their use a quantity of rice and potatoes. At first they might each of them be provided with two suits of cloathing, and be permitted to wear them on the Lords Day, and on particular occasions. It would be the wisest plan for each Missionary to begin with a few, say ten. Little prayers themes catechisms &c might be taught them, until a regular assortment of books could be written, and printed for their instruction. The Native children in general particularly Chiefs Sons, have been very wild and unsettled of late but some children would in my opinion attend. And I have no doubt but the Lord would in time vouchsafe his blessing. I am Revd and Dear Sir Your obedient servant signed Thomas Kendall [f] Missionary House Pater Noster Valley August 15th 1823 Revd Saml Marsden Revd Sir, I have long since made an open confession of my Sins before God and have magnified them before Men, regarding, as I have done, the public situation which I hold in this Mission, and my duty to God and the Society. I have been free and open in the acknowledgement of them not only on my own account, but on account of some others, who are, or have been united with the Mission, and have fallen into gross sins of the same, or of a different nature, and who I hope have repented with me. I hope Sir you will consider the perilous situation of the Missionaries before you suffer the mode recommended in the instructions of the Society to the Revd Mr Butler and friends in future to be lost sight of. [f] Missionaries here ought not to be treated by each other like Ministers in England when they do not enjoy an equal share of their rich privileges. I have shewn you Sir how easy it is for some Men to deceive themselves and others in their censures in the manner which has been adopted in my own case. We shall all Sir, stand before the judgement Seat of Christ. Every one of us must answer for ourselves. We can put no cloak upon our own faults. Neither shall we have time to be severe with each other. The eyes of us all will be fixed upon one person. May God disapoint [sic] the designs of the Devil, who has long been struggling to part us, to torment us, and to prevent our usefulness among the Heathen. Having now said all I wish to say, I shall make no more concessions to Man, who is a guilty creature like myself. I desire to trust in God and not to fear what Man can do unto me. I am Revd Sir Your faithfull Servant Thomas Kendall [f] Missionary House Pater Noster Valley August 16th. 1823 Revd Saml Marsden Revd Sir, I understand that a Committee of the Missionaries has lately been held at my House at Rangee Hoo, and that amongst their proceedings an inquiry has been made “Why My Colleague Mr Cowell should unite with me and my Family and Friends in our public worship in Sundays and other days for more than twelve months, or in other words why he did not join the other settlers in their Worship. This Sir, is an inquiry of a very humbling nature to me, and I trust I feel myself humble. I nevertheless feel it a duty to remind you that no good end can, or will be answered by the Missionaries who are all of them fallible Men, enquiring into, and cen-suring the conduct of each other, in the manner they have done. The Disciples of our Lord no doubt were well acquainted with the gene-ral bad conduct of their colleague Judas Iscariot; yet when our Lord declared before all of them, that one of them would betray him, every one for himself asked the solemn question Is it I? Not one of them presumed to point out the person of the Betrayer. How did St. Peter and the other [f] Disciples act after they had forsaken their Lord, but were sorry for what they had done? Did they spend their time in mutual accusations and proud acts of self preference? No. They united together in holy worship, and became ever after bold and faithful preachers of Christ crucified. Is Sir, the history of David, or the parables of the lost Sheep, and Prodigal Son blotted out of Gods holy word? How is it then I am still to forbear after I have given every proof I can that it is my earnest desire to be correct in my own conduct, to live as becomes a Christian, and to make myself useful to all who live near me, or attend my Ministry? My Cowell was not my only colleague who attended my Mi-=nistry at Rangee Hoo, Mr Frances Hall and Mr Kemp who are pious men, countenanced our Worship by their presence, and the former publicly stated on the Day I confessed my faults openly, that he should be glad to attend every other Sunday. I wish Sir to state my views early. At the time of my Ordination I conceived it would be my Duty to perform Divine Service on my return to New Zealand, with my Family and the Settlers at Rangee Hoo. But then I did not conceive myself to be under any restraint with respect to them; or that they would be under the necessity of confining themselves wholly to me [f] My chief and humble duty as is manifest upon my letters of Ordination is that of a Missionary amongst the Natives of New Zealand and I must candidly tell you Sir, that I conceive my obliga-tions to perform it are increased, and not diminished in consequence of my late dreadful state of mind, a state in which all the faculties ^both of my mind and body appear now to me to have been under the delusive controul of the great Enemy of my usefulness and my salvation. It is I apprehend out of any Mans power to prevent me preaching the Gospel to the Natives, and such Europeans as may be inclined to hear me. I may Sir, be suspended as a Servant of the Society and that may be just. I may be slighted and neglected as a mover of sedition and a stirrer up of the people. I may be reduced to penury and want, the hearts of my faithful and kind friends in England may be wounded by reports containing a mixture of truth and falsehood. But no Man except my Divine Master can take out of my hands the commission of Mercy which he has entrusted to me, except at his peril. It may be noticed Revd. Sir, that now I am situated at a distance from those with whom I never could agree cordially in our views of a public nature, and am now ^ in a tranquil and easy state of mind there is an easy rule for all of you to be guided by as it respects myself. If Christ has [f] done with me, and will not accept my poor feeble efforts to serve him in this Land of Heathen darkness and ignorance it will soon be seen. If he has more employment for me he will bring be through my troubles, and more than compensate me for all my sufferings. There need be no attempt on my part therefore to vin-=dicate or conceal such parts of my con-=duct, as have been wrong, neither need any one stive to mis-construe my professions, or to oppress and degrade me. O for that spirit which Job manifested when his Eye saw his Lord, O for the disposition of repenting David and weeping Peter, O for a firm patient and persevering Zeal to promote the glory of that Saviour whose property is always to have mercy and who will finally confess those before his Father and the holy Angels who confess him before the World. I am Rev.d Sir Your Obedient Servant Thomas Kendall NB Mr Cowells moral character is irreproachable. [f] Rangee Hoo Augt 30. 1823 Revd Sir, As I am now about to quit New Zealand with my Family, and do not know whether it may or may not be the will of Divine Providence for me to return I desire in this farewell address to the Committee of Missionaries to express again with deep contrition my late awful fall and dreadful state of mind. In stating my present feelings respecting my departure from this Island I have to inform you that after several communications to the Revd Saml Marsden, and interviews with him, I have weighed the subject duly, and have now no doubt but by retiring a few years at least, I am doing my duty. When I look at the Natives of New Zealand and the wide field of usefulness which is at present before the Missionaries, I long to remain where I am. But I am in an unfit state of mind. My head is often in a distracted Condition, and my spirits broken down: My Family is also large, some of my Children are growing up fast towards maturity and want fixing in the World. I therefore am reluctantly compelled to remove, and have only one remaining duty to perform; that is, to express my readiness to retract every improper sentiment or expression which I may ever have unguardedly made use of through the natural irritability of my [f] temper or towards any of my Colleagues. I beg forgiveness where I have done without cause any injury, and to shew my readiness to forgive, as I wish to be forgiven. I am Revd Sir Your very Obedient servant signed Thomas Kendall Revd Saml Marsden Chairman P.S. Mr Kemp the storekeeper will have the goodness to favour me with my account with him on the part of the Society. Ship Brampton September 9. 1823 Revd Sir, We request you will as soon as possible adopt measures for our removal with our Families and property from on board of this Ship being considered in a perilous state. Your very Obedient Servants signed John Cowell Thomas Kendall [f] Ship Brampton Sept 10 1823 Revd Sir, As I have now no other means of removing my property from on board of this Ship which is now stranded on the shore of Waitangi or of supporting my Family untill I can be accommodated with a passage on board of another Vessel than by applying to you as Agent of the Church Missionary Society, I beg leave to request you will adopt measures for my assistance as speedily as possible. Waiting for an answer from you I remain Revd Sir Your obedient Servant signed Thomas Kendall Revd S. Marsden Kiddee Kiddee Sepr. 10. 1823 Rev.d Sir The dreadful Calamity that has befallen the Brampton has embarrassed me very much, I was in hope when we were embarked the difficulties were in a great measure over, but now I am at a loss to know what to do, In the first place, I [f] strongly recommend you to return to Pomaree’s place where you were so quietly settled, until an opportunity allows for our return to Port Jackson. It will be exceeding painful for you to go again to Rangee Hoo, this measure I never can approve of, and I hope you have no intention to take that step. It would be throwing yourself into the very snare of the Devil and greatly increasing your own dangers and distressing your Family. It is impossible to foresee what calamities might be the consequence. Take my advice and retire to where you were before and I will do what I can to provide for your wants, while you remain here – you know my hands are tied with respect to the Society but I will take what responsibility upon myself I can on the condition of your following my advice, and I pledge myself to give you the best advice I can – If you will not follow my advice but your own, I shall probably be obliged from principle and justice to refuse you what I might otherwise feel justified in granting on the express condition that you act under my direction; I hope you will be advised for your own sake and for the sake of the cause on which you have been engaged. Let me know what your determination is as soon as you can I remain Revd Tho.s Kendall Your wellwisher Signed Samuel Marsden [f] Pater Noster Valley Bay of Islands Sept. 15th. 1823 Revd. Sir, I desire to express my unfeigned thanks to Almighty God, my Maker, my Benefactor, and my Saviour for all his Mercies vouchsafed to me and especially for this fresh instance of his undeserved kindness in saving me and my Family and the whole of my property from wreck of the Ship Brampton. Previous to my embarkation with my family on board of the above named Ship, I had been employed at this place no less than six Months to the satisfaction of both Europeans and Natives who resided and came near me, in worshipping with them and giving them, lessons of religious instruction every Lord’s Day; in writing prayers and catechisms in the Native Language and in erecting with the assistance of my Eldest Son suitable buildings for Missionary purposes. It now after the most deliberate consideration and humble prayer to my Divine Master for direction that I first formed the resolution to come here without asking advice from you; and now I have had your advice to return, I am sure I could not act contrary to it. You will pardon me conceiving that the difficulties to which you allude, are in your own mind to be solely ascribed to me; if they are so indeed, I beg you will sacrifice me [f] every way to humour them. I know Rev.d Sir that you have had much to contend with from various quarters and that you have often been ready to faint under your heavy burden. There will be a time however, when you will rejoice – if you reap not during your abode on earth, you shall nevertheless do it when the Angels of the most High shall be commanded to thrust in their sickles and the countless multitudes shall shout [?] the harvest home. If you give me any advice or lay any command upon me which you deem it my duty to fulfil, you will see in the result whether I do, or do not obey you. But my late deportment, Rev.d Sir has been such a mystery to myself, and I have felt such a want of firmness, and re-solution in so many instances, that I am confident it would please you much better to see me do what it is my duty to do, than to promise to do much, and do little. As I have made my complaint to Almighty God, have mourned and I trust am still mourning over my helplessness and wretchedness in times past before Him, so I depend on Him for grace to enable me to promote his glory for the time to come [f] You can take the Communion Plate for the Revd Mr Williams if you wish it; and I should be glad if you would come over and examine the whole of my packages. Such things as belong to the Society, and you say upon inspection I ought to deliver up, I will do it if possible. I am Rev.d Sir Your Obedient Servant signed Thomas Kendall Rev.d Saml Marsden. Kiddee Kiddee Octr 9. 1823 Revd Sir, In order to prevent the possibility of any misconstruction being put upon what I have said to you at different times relative to the New Zealand language I think it proper to state the substance of our conversations. When I called upon you after our Shipwreck I advised you to employ your time untill [sic] an opportunity for our return to Port [f] Jackson, in drawing up a vocabulary of the New Zealand language in as correct and simple a manner as you could retaining the pronunciation of the English Vowels, as I found the Missionaries met with insuperable difficulties in speaking the language according to the Rules laid down in your Grammer. [sic] I then told you expressly that I gave you this advice merely as an Individual and that what I said on this subject was in no way to be considered as having any respect to the Church Missionary Society. In reply to which you said you were a debtor to the Society; and that the Society was no debtor to you, in which opinion I coincided; and at the same time I repeated my former observations, that I did not speak to you as the Society’s Agent, but as a private Individual who merely gave an opinion. I observed such a work might be of great service to the Mission, as you were better acquainted with the New Zealand language than any other Missionary, having made it more your study and to employ your time in such a work might be of use to yourself and also to others— My recommendation seemed to meet your approbation, for you expressed your willingness to follow my advice as you would have something to do— On Saturday last [f] I was thunderstruck when you came to Kiddee Kiddee, at the warm manner in which you expressed your determination to remain in New Zealand, and have been entirely at a loss ever since to find a reason for your acting as you then did. As a private individual you have not offended me, nor can I have given you any cause of offence. As Agent to the C M Society I have only had to communicate to you the Resolutions of the Society, and provide you and your Family with a passage to N S Wales, both of which I had done, previous to the loss of the Ship Brampton. From the above period, when you told me that you were determined to remain in New Zealand, I consider myself free from all Official obligations to you. Had you applied to me for support for yourself and Family as Shipwrecked Passengers, waiting with myself for an opportunity to return to Port Jackson I should not have hesitated to comply with your application. By the resolution you have formed, you have put it out of my power to render you any assistance on public grounds. I regret much that you should suffer your angry feelings to carry you so far beyond the bounds of common propriety. It appears to me impossible that any Man possest of Christian Humility and genuine repentance can indulge [f] such dispositions as you manifested at Kiddee Kiddee— Your spirit and manner of expression to me were frightful, and made such an impression upon my mind, as I have not got the better of to this Hour— It is inconceivable to me how you can allow yourself (if you do indeed fear God) to be the sport of such contending passions, so completely destructive of your own peace of mind: and so distressing to all your well-wishers, and so dishonourable to the Christian Name. How different was the spirit of the Prophet, when he said “I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him.” I have been so much hurt on your account from what passed between us on Saturday last that I am convinced the seldomer [sic] we meet under such circumstances the better— I did not come to New Zealand with an intention to open, and tear old wounds, nor to inflict new ones, but to heal all I could, but the cases in general are so desperate, and those whose wounds are still bleeding shew such a tiger-like disposition to devour and lacerate one another, that I have little hopes of doing much good. You say you have confessed your sins, you have repented of them, you have forsaken them, if so, I ask where are the fruits of the Spirit. “Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness.” [f] “If we live in the spirit” the spirit will produce the heavenly Fruits; when we are under the dominion of a Carnal Spirit, it produces Hatred, Variance, Emulations, Wrath, Strife, Revilings. Allow me to ask you, if you do not think you were under the sole dominion of a Carnal Spirit the last time I saw you? The Corinthians when they sorrowed, they sorrowed after a godly sort, it produced repentance unto Salvation in them and Saint Paul in writing to them observes, “What carefulness it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what Fear, yea what vehement desire, yea what Zeal.” If we profess to love Christ let us keep his commandments. Christians are not merely commanded to love one another but also to love their enemies, to bless them that curse them &c &c. Admitting that you have been treated by your Colleagues and the Society with all the injustice of which you complain, yet this cannot justify you as a Christian in expressing yourself with so much bitterness— [f] I am aware that most in the Mission have done wrong, exceeding wrong, and some have been guilty of great Sins, at the same time, you have no just cause to complain, when you consider that for years you obstinately followed your own ways, against all admonitions warning and orders of your Superiors. It appears as if you had been permitted to fall into open and scandalous Sins and to bring upon yourself heavy afflictions in order to check you from persevering in a line of Conduct so revolting to every Christian feeling, and has brought such disgrace upon the Christian Name. I am not surprised that the Society have dismissed you from their Service, but I have been much surprized that they did not dismiss you long before this period, for your disobedience to their positive commands. The Committee have exercised long, and great patience and forbearance with you. I would ask, would you keep a Servant for years who would not obey your orders? I should not have reminded you of these things, if you had spared your Censures of the Society. [f] I do most seriously think you have forfeited every claim to the Society’s patronage and protection. With respect to your remaining in New Zealand after what I have said to you, this will rest wholly with yourself. I intend to have no further altercation with you on this business. One objection you state against going to Port Jackson is that you will be degraded in the Colony. You cannot expect that the better part of Society would respect you as they would have done if you had acted consistent with your Sacred Character, nor can you ever expect to regain that Rank in Society in any part of the World which you have lost. You may thro the Divine Goodness enjoy Peace of Mind in the knowledge of the Divine Mercy. I need not tell you that no Man can be happy who does not attend to our Lords command. “Learn of me says the blessed Jesus, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your Soul.” Carry these words with you by day, lay them upon your pillow by night, when you have learned this lesson, your Sin [f] will lose its dominion over you. We must be converted and become as little Children, or we can in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Reflect upon your state of mind when I saw you last, on the dreadful passions that boiled in your breast, and pray to be delivered from them. I am Revd Sir Your Obedient Servant (signed) Samuel Marsden Revd T. Kendall October 16th 1823 Revd. Sir Agreeable to your request to Mr Hansen, I have given him an order upon you for 18 Dollares [f] being his charge for removing my property from the wreck of the Ship Brampton to this place and am Revd Sir Your very Obedient Servant Signed Thomas Kendall Revd Saml Marsden I have got a list of 70 native tribes and another of the principal Chiefs of New Zealand ready for your inspection. October 22 1823 Revd Sir, The Brig Dragon having touched here on her way from Hobart Town to the Society Islands [f] It is the intention off Capt. Moore and myself to take a passage in her if we can make arrangements with the Master to Port Jackson. I know nothing of the accommodation as I have not been on board. The Master told me he should land his Stores here untill his return, if he went. I wish before I finally agree with him, to know whether you will or will not leave New Zealand in the Dragon if a passage is procured for you and your Family. I am Revd Sir Your most Obedient Servant (signed) Samuel Marsden Revd Tho[ma]s Kendall [f] October 24. 1823 Revd. Sir, I leave the matter entirely with you as it respects my leaving New Zealand in the Brig Dragon and am Revd. Sir Your most Obedient Servant Signed Thomas Kendall Rev Saml. Marsden. I send some more of the nomenclatura. Bay of Islands New Zealand October 30. 1823 Revd. Sir, From my long connexion with the Honourable the Church [f] Missionary Society which as a Member and a Servant is now fourteen years, and from the many kindnesses I have received from them, I cannot think they would wish me to settle at Port Jackson under present circumstances against my will, being a place from which they did not at first take me. I therefore beg leave unequi-vocally to state to you that although I shall be ready to embark with my family on board of the Brig Dragon as soon as convenient accommodations are prepared for our reception, yet I shall expect you will previous by be answerable for any of my property which may be damaged or lost in consequence of accompanying you and that you will further engage on the part of the Church Missionary Society to pay for the passage of myself and Family to England, and afford us every needful support during our residence in New South Wales I remain Revd Sir your most Obedient Servant Signed Thomas Kendall Revd. Saml Marsden [f] Bay of Islands Brig Dragon October 31st 1823 Revd Sir, I have just received your note under date 30th instant, in reply I have only to repeat what I have already said, viz That I have provided a passage for you and your Family to Port Jackson in the Brig Dragon agreeable to my instructions from the Church Missionary Society, which is all that I am authorised to do. I beg furthur [sic] to add, that it is totally impossible for me to promise to provide a passage for you and your Family to England on your arrival at Port Jackson. Having stated the above all furthur communication between you and me I consider finally closed. I am Revd Sir Your most Obedient Humble Servant (signed) Samuel Marsden Revd Thos Kendall